Last support



March 10. 1925.

J.` C. TORCHIA LAST suifron'r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7| 1923 March 10, 1925. 1,529,380

J. c. ToRcHlA LAST 'SUPEORT 'Filed Nov. 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i5 a 2 Y ...le 7

i 5 3 Julius@ 76rcfvaz'gr l adapting the device Jfor use by a`workman Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

*fum-TED "sfirvfrEs .JULIUs C, ToR'oHIA; or rLe-ZLn'roN,y PENNsYLVANIA.

nasce 4"SUPPOR'L Application filed-November `7", 1923.'7`Se1a1 No'. 673,303.

To all lzii/wm. tmtalz/'fconcern Be it knownfthat- I, JULIUS C; "ToscaniniA afcitizen ot the United Stateresming atA 'Hazletoin in thev county of I.lgu'zerneand State ot' Pennsylvania, have'invei'itedI certain new and'usefu'l Improvements inV Last Supports, of which the following'is Ia'specification.

f This inventionrela-tes t`o` improvements in*- shoe'makers lasty supports rand has as its "general object to provide alfsupport soconstructed that the lastsupported'thereby may be adjusted to assume any desired position vtound 'most convenient 'in the 'various operations of manufacturing a Vshoe or repairing the same.

One of the objects ot the presentin'ven-- Vtion is to provide a last support which' may be 'adjusted so as to support the llast at practically any desired"elevatidnfthereby who is seated as well asfo'r use by' `a 'work'- man who prefers to standi'vhile' working.

Another object of the invention' isto provide a last support so'c'onstructedas to per'- v mit of adjustment of the last-rotatably to assume any desired'position'and likewise provide 'for kangular adjustment ofthe last supporting means as well as the=`rotat-ive adjustment lso 'that the last may be vpositioned for most convenient use in the operff ation ofsewing.

'Another object of thev invention is to so vconstruct the support `and1particularly the member-thereof which directlysupports the last., as to permit of angular adjustment of thismember and at the sameftimeprovide t'or rotative adjustment of t-helast for the purposes above stated, means 'being provided for firmly 'holding the various parts of the support in their different: positions of adjustment. u

Another object ot theinvention is to 'provide a last support which willmelfectually withstand' the rimpacts to Vwhich it is ysubjected and infwhich the noise produced bythe v'impacts will be materiallylessened.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l isa front'elevation ot" a shoe-l `rmakers last constructed in accordance with the presentinvention; the supporting 'standard being shown in lowered'position'in full lines and -in an elevated; 'position -infdotted `lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevation ot' the support,

:member 1 will presently be fsetforth. its `opposite side and atopposite sidesof the the member which directly supports=the last being shown inV upright lposition Lin' full lines land inza tilted orwangularly adjusted position in dotted lines;

Figure 3- is va fvertica-l' transverse sectional View through the last;

Figure 4 is aliorizontalv sectional: view on the liney t-t ofFi'guieQ-lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a lhorizontal lsectional*-view taken substantially on'the'line 5-'-5 offFigure 2;

' Figure 6 is 'a perspective view' ,of-- one member ot' the lastsupport;

Figure 7'is a similar viewfillustrating the f member to which the -holding'strap' for the last is connected. l

lie support embodying f the-^invention comprises afstand 4including a relatively iixed' member indicated general bythe numeral l and of hollow approximately cylindrical form, and anfadjustablermember /whicli is indicated in general byfth-e nu- 'isdisposed at anf'angleas'bestffshown in Figuresl and 3 ot thee drawings, 'soi' that 'this "side of the'n last asf'f'p'rovided'with a relatively- Haftv bearingv surface@ 6t extending substantially throughout thelieightof` the member l and linclined f -finwa'rdly toward the axis ofthey member in an upwarddirection. The purpose ot" thus .ormiir'gr4 the At slot=5, the member-lis formed withfparallelv series offlugs orxshoulders '7, the; two series of lugs ory Yshouldersextending? substantially throughout' the'lieightfof the said member l. 1 Thefmemberi fis, like the-member l', of hollowsubstantiallycylindrical `form and is rotatably and vertically adjustably seated inthe 'bore 'offthe member 1 as best-'shown in Figure Blof the drawings. Inly order/that theffi'nemberfsQwmay be ysupported at various elevation-spit is'idisposed 'toy rest, a't Vits lower end,` upon`rt a' substantially circular head 8 1kwhich sis 'vertically ad- .by the numeral 12.

justable within the bore of the member 1. This head 8 is provided at one side with an arcuate boss 9 which projects into the slot 5 and is slidable therein, a similar boss 10 being provided at the opposite side of the member 8 and in like manner engaging in the slot 4. A diametric groove 11 is formed in the under side of the head 8, and the head is formed axially with an opening indicated A bolt 13 is iitted at its headed end through a washer 14 which is disposed against the bearing surface 6 of the member 1, the bolt 13 extending through the slots 4 and 5 and engaging in the groove 11 as vshown in Figure 3. A binding nut 15 is fitted onto the threaded end 16 of the bolt 13 and may be tightened to bear against a block 17 which is loosely fitted upon the bolt and which block is designed to seat interchangeably between the lugs 7 upo-n the member 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. At this point it will be evident that when the parts are assembled and the nut 15 is tightened, the head 8 will be afforded firm support and will in turn constitute a firm support for the member 2. Due to the inclination given the surface 6 of the member 'l and the engagement of the washer 14 against this surface, impacts delivered to the member 2 during the lasting operation will only serve to more irmly wedge the washer 14 against the inclined side of the member 1 and enhance the binding action of the nut 15. In order that the member 2'may be most conveniently vertically adjusted within the member 1, a spring 18 is arranged about the bolt 13 and seats within the concavity of the arcuate boss 9 and bears outwardly against the' block 17. Due to the provision of'this spring, when the nut 15 is loosened, the block 17 will be shifted outwardly along the bolt `13 until it has cleared the lugs 7 whereupon the member 2 and the bolt 13 and the head supported thereby may be vertically adjusted to assume any desired position, the parts being again tightened or locked after the desired adjustment has been obtained.

At its upper end the member 2 is formed with a iXed head 19 which is interiorly cupped as indicated by the numeral 2O so as to snugly receive beveled annular boss 21 provided on the under side of av socket member which is indicated by the numeral 22. The peripheral portion of the socket member 22 overlies the upper edge or rim of the cupped head 19, and a cushioning ring L23 of rubber or any other suitable material is interposed between the overhanging peripheral portion of the socket member 22 and the said rim` of the: head 19. This cushioning ring serves to cushion the force of impact delivered to the last during the lasting operation and consequently serves cated by the numeral 25. The socket memb er 22 is provided at one side with an extension 26 which is bifurcated as at 27 to re-V ceive a pivot lug 28 formed upon an extension 29 of the head 19, a pivot pin 3() beingl fitted through the extension 26 and the,l lug 28 and serving to pivotally connect the socket member 22 with the head 19 so that the socket member may assume a position within the cupped head 19 or may be swung toa more or less tilted position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. By reference to Figure 2 it will be observed that the extension 26 is formed with a nose 31 and above the nose with a flat face 32. The extension 29 is provided with a downwardly'projecting part 33 through which is fitted a bolt 34 having a spring 35 thereon bearing at one end against the head at the reary end of the bolt and at its other end bearing against the rear side of the part 33, and a binding nut 36 is adjustab-ly fitted onto the projecting forward end of the. bolt and is designed to be tightened to bind more or less firmly against a plate 37 which is provided with an opening 38 of a. diameter greater than that of the bolt and which opening accommodates said bolt, the increased size of the opening permitting the plate 37 to fulcrum upon the bolt as illustrated in full and dotted lines in the said Figure 2. A stud 39 upon the forward end of the extension 29 projects through an opening in the plate 37 and serves to prevent any rotative movement of the plate about the bolt. The upper portion of the plate`37 projects in the path of movement of the nose 31 in the swinging movement of the socket member 22 about the... pivot pin 30 and it will be evident by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings that when the socket member is swung downwardly to sub-V stantially horizontal position, the nose 31 will ride against the face of the plate 37 and due to the tension under which this plate is placed by the spring 35, the said member will be securely held in this position of adjustment. On the other hand, when it is desired to support the last in a tilted position as illustrated, for example, in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, the socket member 22 together with the last supporting shank 25 mounted therein lmay be swung to such position whereupon the flat face 32 of the extension 26 will seat against the face of the plate 37, and the parts will be locked in the new position of adjustment.

The last supporting shank 25 is provided in its upper end with a socket to receive the tang 41 ofthe last which is indicated by the numeral 42. In order that rthe last may be held in place upon the shank; 25 and likewise in order that the shoe being manufactured or repaired may be held upon the last, a strap 43 is engaged over theinstep portion of the last 42 and has its side stretches extending downwardly beside the opposite sides of the shank 25 and through grooves 43 formed in the cylindrical Alower end 24 of the said shank at diametrically opposite sides thereof. The lower portion of the strap passing through a loop 44 which is provided with a swivel 45 to which is connected the upper end of a spring 46, the lower end of the spring 46 being lconnected, as, at 47, to the bolt 131 through the opening 12 in the head 8. The strap. 43 is provided with a buckle 48 to, permit of ad* justm-ent of the strap as occasion may ref quire.

In order that the cylindrical lower end 24 of the last supporting shank may be held at various positions of adjustment in the socket member 22, a set screw 49 is threaded through an opening 50 formed in the. said socket member 22- and may be tightened to bear against the said cylindrical lower end 24 of' the said shank 25.

If' desired, a brace 51 may be connected at its upper end to the upper portion of the member l of the support and secured at its lower end to the floor.

In order that th-e member 2 may be held in various positions of rotative adjustment with relation to the member l, the said: member l at its upper portion is split and formed at opposite sid-es olf the split. with ears. 52 through which mayv be engaged a bolt 53 having a clamp nut 54 thereon, the nut beingadapted to be tightened so as to contract the upper portion of the tubular member l about the member 2 for the purpose stated.

From the foregoing description of the invention and from the drawings it will be evident that the member 2 may be raised and lowered with respect to the member l so as to position the last at any -desired elevation and that likewise the member 2 may be rotated within the member l so as to angularly adjust the last both while it is in the full line position shown in Figure 2 and while it is in the dotted line position shown in said figure. It will also be evident that, independently of this adjustment, the last supporting shank 25 may be rotatably adjuste-d within the socket member 22 so as to position the last in a manner most convenient for use. It will also be evident that the last supporting shank 25 may be tiltably adjusted so as to position the last horizontally as shown in full lines in Figure 2 or in a more or less tilted or inclined position as Shown in dotted lines in said figure, and

that' this adjustment @lees net. in, any Way interfere- With rete-tive adjustment et the .shank 25 in the seeket number The Support, es hereinbetore described is ei course designed primarily for employment shepsfbut if lit is desired te place unen the market u support Whieh will. .be less expensive te manufacture and will be more suitable erhenle use,thisp1nay be uc.- eelnpl-ishecl by simply dispensing. with the member 2, the ,supporting head 8 und its associated parts,y the socket y22 and the perte usseeietetl therewith,v then -ineunting the uylinfzlriuel leuter-portion 12,4: 0f the. last supporting shank 25 directly in the upper end 0f the member l, the lower endet the spring 46 beingin this instance. Connected te ahook 55 located any Ceuvenient peint within the lower-end ef the seid member l.

Havingl thus deseribed` the. inventan,l what is; el-uimetl. new is.:

l, In a lest support,A en upright ,comprisinga hollow` relatively linedl section-,r seetien slidably adj'ustably ,fittedtliereiln ineens upon the adjustable seetien fer the support ef lest., end' ineens. adjustable within the first mentioned section and; Constitu-ti-iz1g e rest; for the said adjustable. seetien; seid Ineens ineludlinge heedsliltleble within the hollow portion ef said fixed; seetien.,A besses en said heed fittingr in correspon, nglongitudinal slets ,said fined seetieln. and leeking elements engaging said head and said ,lined section.

2. In lest support,1 upright eeinpris- -ingu hollow relatively lined seetien, esecten ,slid-ably adjnstalely .fitted therein, ineens upon the adjustable seetlon fer the support of a lasti and ineens a table within the rst mentioned sentie-nl e d constituting e for the said stcble sectie-n;- seid Ineens, inelzuuing e ,lient slidfable within the .hollow portie-n et; said. lined section, busses on said head fitting in corresponding longitudinal slots in said fixed section, a bolt engaging in a groove furnished in said head and extending through said slots, spaced lugs on said fixed section, and securing elements for the bolt adapted to engage between said lugs.

3. In a last support, an upright comprising a hollow relatively fixed section, a section slidably adj ustably fitted therein, means upon the adjustable section for the support' of a last, the first mentioned section having a longitudinal slot and being provided at opposite sides of the slot with abutment portions, a bolt adjustable vertically with relation to the said iirst mentioned section and extending through the slot therein, a hea-d supported by the bolt and constituting a rest for the lower end of the adjustable section, a locking member upon the bolt for coacti'on with the abutment portions in the various positions of adjustment of the head and bolt vwith relation to the said first mentioned member, and means adjustable to maintain the locking member in coactive engagement with the said abutment portions.

4. In a last support, an upright comprising a hollow relatively fixed section, a section slidably adjustably fitted therein, means uponk the adjustable section for the support of a last, a head adjustably arranged within the first mentioned section, the said first mentioned section having a slot and the head having a seating portion located opposite the slot, a bolt supporting the said head and having a threaded portion extending through the slot and beyond the said first mentioned member, the first mentioned member at one side of the slot having a series of abutment portions, a locking member upon the 'bolt engageable interchangeably with the abutment portions in the vertical adjustment of the head within the said first mentioned section, the second mentioned section resting upon the head, a spring upon the boltengaging ythe seating portion of the head and engaging against the locking member and tending to move the locking member out of engagement with the said abutment portions, and a nut threaded upon the bolt and coacting with the locking member, the nut being adjustable to urge the locking member into engagement with the abutment portions against the tensionv of said spring.

5. In a last support, an upright comprising a hollow relatively fixed section, a section slidably adjustably fitted therein, means upon the adjustable section for the support of a last, the said first mentioned section having slots located in diametrically opposite sides thereof and extending longitudinally of the section, the section having a flattened exterior bearing surface extending longitudinally beside one of said slots, a sesaid head supporting the said a-djustable section, and a nut threaded upon the bolt'and coacting with the said locking member to hold the same in such engagement with the said abutment portions.

6. In a last support, an upright comprising a hollow relatively fixed section, the lsaid section having a flattened bearing surface at one side of its exterior occupying a plane l inclined upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the section, the said section being formed in its said side with a longitudinally extending slot and with a similar slot in its diametrically opposite side, a series of abutment portions upon the exterior of the section extending beside the vlast mentioned slot, a section slidablyadjustably fitted in the first mentioned section, a bolt fitted through the slot in the first mentioned section and having means contacting the flat bearing surface of the said first mentioned section, a head supported upon the bolt, the said head supporting the said adjustable section, a locking member upon the bolt coactingwith the said abutment portions and enga-geable therewith interchangeably in the adjustment of the head and bolt, and a nut threaded upon the bolt and coacting with the locking member to hold the same in coactive engagement with the abutment portions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JULiUs c. ToRoHni. [L si] 

